REMOVAL men often have to contend with difficult loads, but rarely anything as difficult as two Egyptian mummies, collections of snakes and insects and a hippopotamus skull.

After 122 years of entertaining and educating visitors, the Hancock Museum, in Newcastle, will close for the final time on Sunday.

The museum is expected to be closed for three years while work begins on the £26m Great North Museum.

Four museums -the Hancock, Newcastle University's Museum of Antiquities, the Shefton Museum and the Hatton Gallery -will be brought together under one roof, with the existing buildings being extended.

Yesterday, museum staff began the tricky task of carefully packing up thousands of exhibits to go into storage until 2009, when the gallery will open.

Museum curator Steve McLean said: "The Hancock first opened in 1884 and has enjoyed a special relationship with the people of the North-East.

"From memorable school trips to family days out, the museum has become one of the region's favourite treasures.

"We are hoping lots of people take the opportunity to have a final trip down memory lane before we close the museum on Sunday at 5pm, which will mark the end of an era."

* The Hancock will be open from 10am to 5pm on Sunday for a day-long celebration, with events for children.